India end 44-year wait, beat China 1-0 to win Asian Games hockey gold

Ten minutes into the women’s hockey final, skipper Salima Tete darted into the striking circle and found Sakshi Rana, who slipped the ball to Lalremsiami. There was barely any room, but the striker needed little. A reverse-stick stunner flew into the net.

India erupted. But there were still 50 minutes to play: 50 minutes to defend, fight, score and, ultimately, end a 44-year wait. They did all of it.

India not only broke throu-gh the Chinese wall but ground it into the turf, building a wall of their own in a 1-0 victory over the defending champions at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Friday. High stakes, higher emotions and a greater purpose had brought India to the final. By the end of a pulsating night, they had achieved it all, including a direct ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics.

On the podium, the Indian team stood with hands joined and smiles all around. There was also a tender moment as goalkeepers Savita Punia and her understudy, Bichu Devi Kharibam, both crucial to the victory, exchanged medals.

It was hard to believe this was almost the same team that had been fractured less than 10 months ago.

Fourteen players were injured, some were contemplating retirement and the rift within the camp had spilled into the open.

The turn of the year brought a new beginning. Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne returned at the helm with his chosen support staff, including acclaimed athletic performance head Wayne Lombard and drag-flick great Taeke Taekema.

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Starting with the Olympic qualifiers in March, India have been on an upward curve. What unfolded on a nippy Friday night was the biggest statement yet of their resurgence.

Their start was far from ideal. An accident on the road to the stadium delayed their arrival until 6:45 pm JST, forcing the final to be pushed back by an hour, to 8 pm. Once they stepped onto the field, though, India entered a zone of their own. They attacked, defended and threw themselves into every contest. There was sweat and even blood, as Salima injured a finger, but the players sacrificed everything for one common cause — an Olympic ticket and the gold India had last won in 1982, on home soil.

The D-word defined India: dedication, defence, delivery and defiance.

After 44 years, India had its gold back. An elated Marijne later said: “I can't believe it. We won just the Asian Games gold. Last time it was silver. I think we defended really well.”